Blacktown City Council Media Alert - Politics of Poverty Porn

MEDIA ALERT

Media Call:
Mayor Bali on Centrelink Story
1200 today, outside Blacktown Council Chambers
62 Flushcombe Road, Blacktown.
Parking available on forecourt.

13 June, 2017

“The politics of poverty porn have once again enveloped Blacktown,” the Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Stephen Bali said.

“The heartless vilification of Blacktown’s disadvantaged residents does nothing to resolve the core issue of non-compliance for job seeking requirements.

“I totally support moves to crack down on welfare fraud and cheating, but what’s achieved by demonising an entire city of 358,000 people by highlighting the bad behaviour of 333?

“Even when the Blacktown postcode’s population of 43,374 is taken into account, that is still only 0.7 per cent of the population - which is similar to all the other suburbs listed in the table.

“I am angry because an important issue such as ensuring people get a suitable job has been overshadowed by the vilification of the hard working people of Blacktown.

“Holding up the dispossessed and incapable to public ridicule does not solve the problem of people not turning up to interviews.

“We support moves by the federal government to improve their processes and would have greatly preferred they came to see us to find a local solution to a local problem,” Mayor Bali said.

“I invite Minister Tudge to Blacktown City to speak to community leaders and job seekers to discuss the best ways in addressing the problems.